The Merry Wives of Windsor
1990
1st to 4th August
Directed by Helen McCallum and Ian Wood
Why, then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open.
I think the devil will not have me damned, lest the oil that's in me should set hell on fire.
The story goes that Queen Elizabeth, having enjoyed the character of Falstaff in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, demanded to see him in love. This play is Shakespeare's response. True or not, the story certainly captures Shakespeare's venture into broad comedy with one of his most amoral characters.
Cast
| Sir John Falstaff | Bill Rowlinson |
| Followers of Falstaff: | |
| Bardolph | Tim Bull |
| Pistol | Graham Ellis |
| Nym | Ian Beedham |
| Robin, Falstaff's page | Edward Long |
| Frank Ford, a citizen of Windsor | Richard Carwardine |
| Mistress Alice Ford | Linda Kirk |
| George Page, a citizen of Windsor | Mick Mangan |
| Mistress Margaret Page | Georgina Ferry |
| Anne Page, their daughter | Fiona Fulton |
| William Page, their son | William Long |
| Fenton, a young gentleman | William McCaffrey |
| Shallow, a country justice | Ted Ward |
| Abraham Slender, Shallow's nephew | Clive Burgess |
| Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson | Ian Wood |
| Doctor Caius, a French physician | Duncan McCallum |
| Mistress Quickly, Caius' housekeeper | Jane Coppola |
| The Host of the Garter Inn | Mike Hall |
| John Rugby, Caius' servant | James Archer |
| Robert and John, Ford's servants | Richard Dyball, James Archer |
| Bear | Mike Goddard |
| Schoolchildren, messengers, attendants, fairies | Katie McCallum, Mary McCallum, Rachael Mangan, Jane Clare, Peter Clare |
| Servants, burghers, fairies, orange-sellers, dancers, bear-baiters | Pauline Ward, Pat Tate, Edward Morris |
Crew
| Production | Helen McCallum and Ian Wood |
| Stage Direction | Helen McCallum |
| Lighting | David Long |
| Lighting Assistant | Matthew Shaw |
| Best Boy | Edward Morris |
| Original Music | Roland Clare |
| Musical Director | Anne Coppola |
| Musicians | Anne Coppola, Linda Clare, Roland Clare |
| Sound | John Chambers |
| Costumes by | Julia Morrison, Maxine Chambers, Lynette Muir and the University of Sheffield Staff Dramatic Society |
| Properties and Wardrobe | Jane Hall, Mary Goddard, Maxine Chambers |
| Banner | Connie Bittner |
| Front of House | Jane Hall, Hilary Rowlinson |
| Set | Robert Fitzmartin & Henry VIII |